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Overview

When
you’re pregnant, being healthy is not only for your sake, but for the sake of
your growing baby. Things like high cholesterol, which can be treated with
medication in non-pregnant women, can be more difficult to manage when you’re
with child.

Cholesterol
naturally increases at certain points during gestation. This is true even in
women who have “normal” cholesterol levels pre-pregnancy. For women already
struggling with high cholesterol, it can climb even higher. Fortunately, all
women can take steps to manage their cholesterol throughout their pregnancy, to
help ensure that they and their babies are as healthy as possible.

Cholesterol and the Pregnant Body

Cholesterol is an essential compound found
in most of the body’s tissues. But at high levels, it can form plaque on your
heart’s arterial walls, putting you at a greater risk of heart attack or
stroke. “Bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in particular is
cause for concern.

Cholesterol plays a role in baby’s brain, limb and cellular development, and healthy breast milk.

Carolyn Gundell, M.S.

When
you have your cholesterol tested, you will learn your total cholesterol level. This
is further broken down into levels of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. HDL, or
high-density lipoprotein, is also known as “good” cholesterol. Triglycerides, a
type of fat, are found in the blood and are used for energy. In general, healthy limits for these numbers are:

LDL: less than 100 mg/dL

HDL: greater than 50 mg/dL

Total cholesterol: less than 200
mg/dL

Triglycerides: less than 150
mg/dL

Why Cholesterol Goes Up

However,
when you’re pregnant, you can expect those numbers to climb. Carolyn Gundell, a
nutritionist at Reproductive Medicine Associates in Connecticut, says that cholesterol
levels can climb by as much as 25 to 50 percent during the second and third
trimesters.

Why Cholesterol Goes Up

During pregnancy, cholesterol is needed for:

proper development of your baby

production and function of estrogen and progesterone

“Cholesterol
is necessary for the production and function of steroid hormones such as
estrogen and progesterone,” she explains. “These sex hormones are vital for a
healthy and successful pregnancy.”

And
they are also crucial for your baby’s proper development. “Cholesterol plays a
role in baby’s brain, limb, and cellular development, and in healthy breast
milk,” says Gundell.

When Should You Worry?

Most
women shouldn’t worry about the natural increase in cholesterol. Usually, Gundell
says, levels will drop back to their normal ranges within four to six weeks
post-delivery. It’s chronichigh
cholesterol that elevates your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Natural Ways to Maintain Your Cholesterol:

get healthy fats from nuts and avocado

avoid fried foods

limit saturated fats to lower LDL

limit sugar to lower triglycerides

eat more fiber

exercise regularly

If
you have high cholesterol even before pregnancy, talk with your doctor. Because
some cholesterol drugs like statins can’t be taken while pregnant, he or she will
either change your medication or help you come up with other
ways of managing your cholesterol.

Gundell
says this might include:

increasing exercise

eating more fiber

getting healthy fats like those
derived from nuts and avocados

limiting fried foods and those
high in saturated fats and sugars

Your
doctor will likely check your cholesterol as part of your regular pregnancy
blood work. Any changes to your lifestyle or diet are best discussed with the
professional helping you navigate this special time.